Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
The Pacific Coast of Costa Rica has two protuberances sticking out from the mainland. Both are “exotic terrains”, geologically speaking, pieces of crustal material that was transported over millennia from another location and collided with the mainland through the process of plate tectonics. In the wee hours of the morning the Sea Voyager approached the western side of the Osa Peninsula, the southern most of the protuberances from the mainland. It is the world’s good fortune that far-sighted politicians and conservationists in this small country struggled to save a large piece of lowland tropical rainforest. Corcovado National Park protects nearly100,000 acres, an area large enough to harbor all of the flora and fauna that should be here, especially the larger species that disappear first from small reserves.
In addition to governmental protection of lands, Costa Rica encourages private individuals to set aside some of their lands in natural native vegetation. Punta Caletas just outside of the Corcovado National Park is one of these private reserves. The forest inland from the beach abuts to lands of the park thus forming a buffer zone for the park. Enrique, owner of the lands welcomed us by helping land the zodiacs on the small crescent of a sandy beach. Also in Costa Rica no one owns the beach or lands 50 meters inland from high tide line. It was here that the adventurous horseback riders traveled on their morning excursion. The horses know the trail so off they went taking their riders along the beach and through the forest on a scenic experience. Those who chose not to see the area via equine transport used “shanks mare” to go inland on an extended hike or search for birds around the open area above the beach. A few decided to test the waters of Lapa Beach a short distance down the coast. Here the open Pacific swell met the land creating a small surf break and lovely swimming conditions.
We immersed ourselves in the beauty and serenity of Corcovado National Park’s trails at San Pedrillo ranger station in the afternoon. The lowland rainforest engulfed us in its diversity of plants and towering forest. Some selected a trail that took them up to a ridge through primeval forest containing massive trees, lianas, light gaps, and all else that makes up an undisturbed rainforest. Others chose to walk slowly along a flat section of trail to soak in the surroundings and look for wildlife. A third choice was a trail along a small stream culminating in a refreshing dip below a small cataract creating a rainforest “shower”.
As a finale to this wonderful day’s experiences, a green flash dotted the horizon as the sun quickly ended its passage across the tropical sky. However our day was not quite finished as we learned at the daily highlights some of the interesting natural history of things spotted during the walks lead by the ship’s naturalist staff. Then following yet another delicious dinner there was an evening surprise by being anchored near shore. Fishing bats came to the stern of the ship trying to latch onto some of the small fish attracted to the ship’s lights. Then on the top deck the blackness of the night revealed literally thousands of sparkling jewels in the night sky. Shining brightly in the west was Venus and directly overhead was the well known shape of Orion. Yet another day ends on a very special expedition.
The Pacific Coast of Costa Rica has two protuberances sticking out from the mainland. Both are “exotic terrains”, geologically speaking, pieces of crustal material that was transported over millennia from another location and collided with the mainland through the process of plate tectonics. In the wee hours of the morning the Sea Voyager approached the western side of the Osa Peninsula, the southern most of the protuberances from the mainland. It is the world’s good fortune that far-sighted politicians and conservationists in this small country struggled to save a large piece of lowland tropical rainforest. Corcovado National Park protects nearly100,000 acres, an area large enough to harbor all of the flora and fauna that should be here, especially the larger species that disappear first from small reserves.
In addition to governmental protection of lands, Costa Rica encourages private individuals to set aside some of their lands in natural native vegetation. Punta Caletas just outside of the Corcovado National Park is one of these private reserves. The forest inland from the beach abuts to lands of the park thus forming a buffer zone for the park. Enrique, owner of the lands welcomed us by helping land the zodiacs on the small crescent of a sandy beach. Also in Costa Rica no one owns the beach or lands 50 meters inland from high tide line. It was here that the adventurous horseback riders traveled on their morning excursion. The horses know the trail so off they went taking their riders along the beach and through the forest on a scenic experience. Those who chose not to see the area via equine transport used “shanks mare” to go inland on an extended hike or search for birds around the open area above the beach. A few decided to test the waters of Lapa Beach a short distance down the coast. Here the open Pacific swell met the land creating a small surf break and lovely swimming conditions.
We immersed ourselves in the beauty and serenity of Corcovado National Park’s trails at San Pedrillo ranger station in the afternoon. The lowland rainforest engulfed us in its diversity of plants and towering forest. Some selected a trail that took them up to a ridge through primeval forest containing massive trees, lianas, light gaps, and all else that makes up an undisturbed rainforest. Others chose to walk slowly along a flat section of trail to soak in the surroundings and look for wildlife. A third choice was a trail along a small stream culminating in a refreshing dip below a small cataract creating a rainforest “shower”.
As a finale to this wonderful day’s experiences, a green flash dotted the horizon as the sun quickly ended its passage across the tropical sky. However our day was not quite finished as we learned at the daily highlights some of the interesting natural history of things spotted during the walks lead by the ship’s naturalist staff. Then following yet another delicious dinner there was an evening surprise by being anchored near shore. Fishing bats came to the stern of the ship trying to latch onto some of the small fish attracted to the ship’s lights. Then on the top deck the blackness of the night revealed literally thousands of sparkling jewels in the night sky. Shining brightly in the west was Venus and directly overhead was the well known shape of Orion. Yet another day ends on a very special expedition.
